【双语灵修】力求平衡STRIKING A BALANCE

以弗所书 4:14-16

使我们不再做小孩子，中了人的诡计和欺骗的法术，被一切异教之风摇动飘来飘去，就随从各样的异端，唯用爱心说诚实话，凡事长进，连于元首基督。全身都靠他联络得合式，百节各按各职，照着各体的功用彼此相助，便叫身体渐渐增长，在爱中建立自己。

8月26日

力求平衡

“惟用爱心说诚实话，凡事长进，连于元首基督。” - 以弗所书 4:15

有时，艰难的谈话是不可避免的。也许你需要与家人、邻舍或同事讨论一个很棘手的困境。你可能正对此感到畏缩，但你深知必须面对。在艰难的谈话中，最挑战的部分，莫过于在诚实直言与心存怜悯之间，取得恰到好处的平衡。说话若不诚实、不合真理，就有导致误解的风险；而说话若缺乏怜悯，则有破坏关系的危险。

使徒保罗为我们提供了纯正而深邃的属灵智慧，帮助我们跨越这些艰难的对话。为教会生活奠定了耶稣基督那磐石般的根基之后，保罗在《以弗所书》第4章中，为信徒如何成熟地过合一的生活，提出了实际的建议。根据保罗的教导，尽管基督赐予教会一些会众有教导和领导的恩赐，但祂呼召每一位成员都要在生命中迈向成熟，并竭力保守教会的合一。保罗说，这样我们便不会被“异教之风”摇动，或被“诡诈的法术”迷惑。相反，当我们在爱中说诚实话（用爱心说真理）时，我们就会在凡事上长进，连于元首基督。

在圣灵的引导与赐福下，唯有在真理与爱心之间持守平衡，基督的身体才能真正的增长，迈向成熟。因此，无论是轻松的闲谈还是艰难的对话，真理与爱心都应当成为我们所有言语的指标。

祷告

主啊，无论我们身处何地，你都以真理和爱心向我们说话。求你帮助我们在任何境遇中，都能以真理和爱心与他人对话。阿们。

Ephesians 4:14-16

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26

STRIKING A BALANCE

Speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. —Ephesians 4:15

Sometimes hard conversations are necessary. Perhaps you need to discuss a painfully difficult situation with a family member, a neighbor, or a colleague. Maybe you are dreading it, but you know you must do it. The hardest part of a difficult conversation is to strike the right balance between speaking honestly and speaking with compassion. Speaking without honesty and truth risks misunderstanding, and speaking without compassion risks destroying the relationship.

When we need help with hard conversations, the apostle Paul provides some sound spiritual wisdom. After laying out the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ in the life of the church, Paul provides practical advice in Ephesians 4 for living together in maturity and unity. According to Paul, though Christ has given some members in the church gifts for teaching and leadership, he calls every member to grow in maturity and to strive for unity in the church. Then we will not be blown around “by every wind of teaching” and “deceitful scheming,” he says. Instead, we will grow mature as we speak the truth in love.

With the Holy Spirit’s guidance and blessing, when we keep truth and love in balance, we can expect that growth and maturity will take place in the body of Christ. Truth and love should guide all of our conversations, whether they are easy or difficult.

Lord, you speak to us with truth and love wherever we are. Help us also to speak with others in all situations with truth and love. Amen.